You Can’t Leave Me Twice

Eastmore City. Neon lights illuminated the night sky. A black sedan sped through the rain-slick streets as the soft patter of spring rain tapped against the windows, mixing with ragged breaths and the unmistakable sounds of kissing from the back seat. The couple tangled together behind were a mess of rumpled clothes and wandering hands. “Slow down, Mr. Mercer~” the woman teased softly. “Your fiancée is in the front~” The man deliberately glanced toward the driver’s seat, his voice filled with disdain. “Don’t worry about her, babe.” Reflected in the rearview mirror was a pair of cool, detached eyes. Isabel Quinn kept her hands steady on the wheel as she watched everything unfolding behind her. Her expression remained calm, almost detached. The two people making out in the back seat were her fiancé and her cousin. And what was she now? Probably their chauffeur. After all, a chauffeur’s job was to drive this pair of l**t-driven lovers to a hotel so they could enjoy themselves to their hearts’ content. Isabel withdrew her gaze and looked ahead. On a giant LED screen towering over the city center, the latest financial news was being broadcast. The moment she caught sight of it, she froze. For a split second, her mind went blank. The car veered out of control. It shot directly into the oncoming lane. Bang—! In the blink of an eye, both vehicles screeched to a stop. The kissing couple in the back seat slammed into each other, their teeth colliding painfully. Derek shoved the woman away and exploded. “Isabel Quinn! What the hell is wrong with your driving?!” Isabel tightened her grip on the steering wheel and slowly lifted her eyes against the blinding headlights. The front of the other black car had been dented. The sleek silver badge on the grille gleamed beneath the headlights. A Valmont Phantom. One of the most exclusive luxury cars in the world. The sight made Derek’s face drain of color. “D*mn it, Isabel. You’re screwed.” Isabel struggled upright and pushed open the car door. Stepping into the rain, she steadied herself against the vehicle. Just a few yards away, the door of the luxury sedan opened. Polished leather shoes touched the wet pavement. Under the streetlights, the rain fell at an angle through the darkness. A tall man stepped out of the car. His suit was perfectly pressed. Rain and mist clung to his broad shoulders and dark hair, softening the sharp lines of his silhouette. With one effortless motion, he opened a black umbrella and began walking toward her. Every step carried an air of effortless nobility. As he drew closer, the familiar features hidden behind the curtain of rain gradually came into focus. His features were sharp and striking, with a high nose bridge, strong brows, and deep, unreadable eyes. An overwhelming sense of pressure rolled off him. Isabel’s slender frame stiffened. The man who had appeared on the financial news only moments ago was now standing right in front of her. The rising star of international finance. The heir to one of Eastmore City’s most prestigious families. Ryan Sullivan. And also… Her ex-boyfriend. Derek stood frozen in shock. A smear of lipstick still lingered at the corner of his mouth. “Uncle Ryan? When did you get back?” Isabel’s lashes trembled. Uncle? The man standing in the rain looked no more than a few years older than Derek. Before she could process it, Derek hurried over with a grin. “Uncle Ryan, why didn’t you tell me you were coming back? I would’ve picked you up from the airport.” He laughed awkwardly and pointed toward Isabel. “That’s my fiancée, Isabel Quinn. Her driving is terrible.” “You weren’t hurt, were you?” As Derek stepped closer, Ryan's brows furrowed slightly. His voice was cold. "Leave." Derek immediately nodded. “Got it. I’ll make her—” Ryan’s gaze turned cold. “I was talking to you.” Derek’s smile froze. Ryan's gaze settled on Isabel. "Not her." Then he looked back at Derek. "You can leave." Isabel froze. The moment Derek realized Ryan wanted Isabel to remain, he seized the opportunity to dump the problem on her. “Isabel, my uncle’s car isn’t cheap.” “You caused this mess. Figure it out yourself.” Without another word, he grabbed his mistress and flagged down a taxi. Within moments, they were gone. Leaving Isabel alone in the rain. The night wind lifted strands of her hair as raindrops clung to her lashes. Ryan stopped in front of her. Close enough to touch. Their eyes met. Three years had only sharpened his features. Dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, he carried the effortless magnetism of a man who had fully grown into his power. Her throat tightened. He was still unfairly attractive. Ryan’s grip tightened around the umbrella handle. His gaze darkened as it lingered on her. The corners of his lips curved upward slightly. His slow, measured tone carried a deeper meaning. “Did you miss me, ex-girlfriend?” The title felt like a mockery. But it wasn’t wrong. They had dated in college. She was the one who ended it. If he resented her, she couldn’t blame him. Isabel lowered her head slightly and got straight to the point. “Mr. Sullivan, today’s accident was my responsibility. I’m sorry for the trouble I’ve caused you.” At her choice of address, amusement flickered in Ryan’s eyes. Mr. Sullivan? What a formal way to address him. Three years apart, and his ex-girlfriend had become quite the stranger. At least she still remembered his name. He took a step closer. Whether intentionally or not, the large black umbrella shifted, shielding her from the rain. His eyes locked onto hers. His fingers tightened around the handle. When he spoke, every word was deliberate. “Sorry isn’t enough.” His gaze dropped briefly to her lips before returning to her eyes. “You’re going to take full responsibility.”